DRI seizes forex worth Rs 1.93 cr

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has busted an international hawala racket at the Delhi airport and seized foreign currencies worth Rs 1.93 crore.

The DRI officers intercepted a domestic as well as an international passenger of Delhi-Kochi-Dubai flight on Wednesday, an official statement issued on Friday said.

The DRI officials seized Saudi Riyal, Euro and Pound Sterling of various denominations equivalent to Rs 1.93 crore from the international passenger, it said.

The international passenger, as well as the domestic passenger, had booked the ticket in an Air India flight, the DRI said.

The domestic passenger was travelling to Kochi and the international passenger was going to Dubai.

"The domestic passenger handed over the foreign currencies to the international passenger after clearing the customs, immigration and security checks," the statement by the DRI said.

These passengers are involved in the smuggling of cigarettes and gold, for which they were carrying the foreign currencies illegally, it said.